This place is one of my go-to spots for carne asada fries. The fries are perfectly fried, portions are generous and they consistently hit the spot. One thing I really appreciate is that they offer free chips when you dine in--such a nice bonus while you're waiting for your food. Service is always quick, even during busy times. I also have to give a shoutout to their bacon breakfast burrito. It's honestly the best one I've ever had. Every bite had the perfect ratio of ingredients, and the bacon, eggs, potatoes, and cheese are evenly distributed throughout the burrito instead of all ending up on one side. And if you're there on Taco Tuesday, don't skip the street tacos. They're delicious, packed with flavor, and offered at a great price. Fast service, great food, and consistently satisfying meals make this one of my favorite local spots. read more

Cali's & Fries - Entrance - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Really wanted to get pizza at Filipi's Pizza Grotto and drove out from downtown since the Little Italy location was already closing. Unfortunately, Yelp let us down with the wrong hours so we wound up so we wasted a trip. Fortunately we found Cali's & Fries that wasn't too far away. Cali's is a small mom & pop that serves a nice selection of mexican food. We were a bit iffy since the surrounding businesses were closed and there was only one car in front. Our fears were unfounded since there was a steady flow of customers that came in during our visit. My son ordered the carne asada fries which were pretty awesome. A ton of fries covered with a sweet bbq sauce and a generous amount of cheese. My wife pleased with her fish tacos and my rolled taco plate was also quite good with 3 crispy beef rolled tacos covered with guacamole and cheese. The rice was a bit bland but the beans were decent. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was that the large round table was a bit sticky which triggered my ick factor. They need to do a better job with wiping down the tables. Other than that, everything was fine. As far as the food goes, I'd definitely recommend it and it would be a favorite take out location if I lived in the area. read more

Cali's & Fries - Rolled taco plate. Nice and crispy - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

The food is absolutely the standout star of this restaurant. Everything tastes delicious, is freshly made, and they have a wide variety of options. The interior of the restaurant is nice, though a little worn down. The service is not bad, not they just assumed our order was to-go and didn't really care to help us figure out what to order (the menu is massive). Overall, Cali's & Fries is totally worth the stop-in if you enjoy delicious SoCal Mexican food! read more

Came here after visiting the pet rehab clinic next door, Animals Only. It's a hole in the wall taco place with authentic Mexican food at a shopping plaza. We got the carne asada fries and the quesabirria tacos. The portions are pretty big. The carne asada fries was tasty and filling, and they were very generous with the meat 8/10. The quessabirria was very oily. I had only a bite, and I gave the rest to my boyfriend. He loved it, but it was too greasy for me, so 7/10. They have a salsa bar with self serve chips, kind of salty, but still good - 8/10. read more

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I ordered the same as 4 months ago and they are consistent! Loved my half order carne asada fries. The customer in front of me had challenges ordering. He was asking alot of questions and the lady didn't know a few answers and wasn't very quick to respond. He settled on a basic burrito. The restaurant is clean. Older furniture and flag decor looks a bit worn but the chips and salsa bar is still great!! read more

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Was looking for a close by place that was opened late after an event and came here for some good old Mexican food. We had a group of 20 of us and we were the only ones that were there. It's in the Serra Mesa area and a little hidden. But sometimes these kinda places have the best food, and I gotta admit their food was good. I shared the carne asada fries and it was huge! Very good and filled with meat! Definitely recommend this place if you're in the area. Just Yelp it! read more

Cali's & Fries - Carne asada fries - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

The best carne asada burrito, hands down!! Now that I live in LA area, I always have to make a stop at Roberto's when I'm in SD!! (Now called Cali's & Fries). Been going here since high school and it's still the best!! Carne asada, rolled tacos, bean and cheese burrito, quesadillas, you name it... read more

Cali's & Fries - Rolled tacos with guacamole! Chicken, beef, or potato - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Another little taco shop to check out in San Diego. It's a little hole in the wall in a small strip mall near a few other restaurants and a physical therapy gym. It's just down the hill from Kaiser hospital so I came over on my lunch break. The inside is pretty small and there are a few tables outside. There's a nice salsa bar with chips that are delicious with the perfect sprinkling of salt. I love that it's self serve so you can have any much as you want while you're there. The lady working the cash register was very patient and kind. I like how this taco shop has different burrito types based on countries around the world. It's a cool concept that I don't see at many places. I got the ultimate breakfast burrito because I love a good breakfast burrito. It came with ham, sausage, bacon, eggs, potato, and cheese. There was a little too much ham in my opinion and not enough bacon. The sausage was delicious and the egg was nice and fluffy. It was a hearty burrito that I was able to stretch out to two meals and the next day it kept well because it wasn't too wet and not soggy at all. I think it's hard to have a great burrito because there are so many options in SD so this one definitely didn't make it in my top favorites but I'll probably be back to try another option and definitely for more chips. read more

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Authentic food made fresh! Visited for the first time and had a great experience. Overall customer service was great and the food was delicious. Flan was delicious! Will definitely visit again. read more

Cali's & Fries - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this place. On taco Tuesday's they include carne asada tacos. No beer but there's a liquor store nearby. They are known for there fries. My wife loves the vegan fries! read more

Their breakfast burritos are pretty tasty and fresh. I did come later in the evening after their rush. Customers service is great and restaurant was clean. I highly recommend if you love breakfast burritos. I haven't tried their other items yet. read more

San Diego doesn't play when it comes to carne asada fries. Cali's & Fries is a great hole in the wall with a self serve salsa & chip bar as well as a huge menu stacked with tasty options from tacos, burritos, rolled tacos, quesadillas, and of course french fries. Parking lot in front has plenty of parking so it won't hard to find a spot. You order at the cashier, pay, and find a table to wait for your food. Service was friendly and kind. The portion sizes were huge and they really are generous with the meat here. You really get great bang for your buck. Carne asada fries - This is a must share item. The portion is massive so we split two orders between 6 of us and there was still plenty to take home. The fries are crispy and that asada meat is juicy. Carne asada burrito- They really don't skimp on the meat here. The steak was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. No filler or rice here, just simple meat and salsa. So delicious! Would highly recommend the french fries and burritos here. Go check them out! read more

Cali's & Fries - Carne asada fries - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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10/10, wasn't feeling fast food today and saw they had loaded fries. Got the carnita fries and the cashier was incredibly nice. Very authentic flavors and cozy atmosphere. read more

Cali's & Fries - Salsa Bar - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: Enjoyable and made to order. As a returning customer, Cali & Fries is one of my favourites. Service: Customer service is always good. Ambience: Relax inside while eating. Clean. Always clean up after oneself. read more

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Stopped by Cali's & Fries in uniform after a long shift and ordered a California burrito. I asked to take off sour cream and add beans instead -- they still charged me $1.50 extra for the beans. When I asked why, I was told, "It's not in the burrito." That kind of reasoning makes no sense. I wasn't asking for anything extra -- just swapping one ingredient for another. It's frustrating to see a place nickel-and-dime customers like that, especially when you're trying to support a local business as a first responder. The food was decent, but the customer service and policy left a bad taste. read more

Parking: some of the spots are quite tight for a regular length car but other then that, i was able to find parking during lunch hour Inside: very casual, the seats look like they could use a wipe but otherwise how it looks is expected Service: Good! The people are very nice. I ordered to go and they do the usual and asked if i wanted hot sauce with my food. Food: It's ok! The fish burrito i ordered was pretty good. The carne asada fries had some good fresh fried fries, however I felt like the layers of the fries, meat, and other toppings were on the thin side. So portion wise, this particular carne asada fries is on the small side compared to what I'm use to. Prices: This prices are on the high side and for that reason I wouldn't come back. This review is based on two separate visits as I really wanted to double check if this would be added to my list of go to taco shops. read more

Finally a place that does a veggie cali burrito! And it's so good. My boyfriend also said the California burrito is one of the best he's had, with the right balance of meat and good flavor. read more

Cali's & Fries - Veggie Cali burrito - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

If u don't include decor, this place has a slight edge over Cotijas! First they use real guacamole not that cheap colored sour cream stuff. Second, they use real shredded beef in tacquitos not hamburger meat! Also, they have pork, chicken, carnitas and potato options. Then to top it off I was delightfully surprised to see they had complimentary mini Mexican donuts on the counter! Delicious and a cute treat!!! read more

Man they got the best rolls tacos and its super fresh and crispy...top of that family own is super friendly and genuinely!!!!!!service is top notch read more

Been coming here since it was called El Roberto, so probably 2004-2005. Solid spot with great carne asada burritos, California burritos, carne asada fries, rolled tacos etc. haven't had anything I didn't like. Also, love the salsa bar and free chips too if you're dining in. Tops off the whole experience. read more

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AAAAAMAZING! I get the california burrito with Chipotle sauce, garuanteed amazing! I grew up in San Diego, this is my favorite burrito by far. read more

Cali and fries is a hidden gem in the Tierrasanta/ Kearney Mesa area. It's consistent in taste and is reasonable with portions and prices. The staff is kind, efficient and friendly. They always greet you when you walk in and seem to have a large amount of regulars. The restaurant is clean and has a complimentary salsa/condiments bar and chips. There is indoor and outdoor seating available and plenty of parking. You can't go wrong with the carne asada fries or the chicken rolled tacos. read more

The prices are justified by the portions they give in this establishment. Great tasting meats and I believe they have free chips to snack on next to the salsa bar. read more

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We ordered carne asada fries over the phone for pick up and by the time we got there it was ready and fresh. We got home and the fries was crispy and the meat flavorful. read more

Was in SD just for a night only and they were the only place that was open till midnight. The food was good, friendly staff, parking lot is pretty big. Definitely would come back here read more

Came here because of the reviews. Got a California burrito. It was priced at 12.99 on the menu and I was charged 13.99 plus a $1 tax so it came out to $15 for the burrito. I went to ask the cashier about the price difference and she said that's what the machine had marked. She obviously didn't make the prices on the machine. But if they steal $1 per person that orders the burrito that's a nice chunk of change from the public. Just saying. Keep an eye out on how much they charge you and what the menu says. read more

Cali's & Fries (15 & Clairemont Mesa) Ordered "California Burrito" Price: $12.30 Pricey Fries: French 5/5 Crispy Size: Med size for the price 3/5 Salsa spice level: Self serve/ 2x red 1x green & hot carrots. Red 3/10 taste metallic Green 7/10 good flavor low on spice Taste: Meat has good flavor however the burrito is average. Smaller side based in a $12 price. Pretty basic burrito contains Good meat sour cream and cheese. Customer service was above standard. read more

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Been here a dozen times over many years and for a long time, I didn't understand why the yelp reviews were so strong. This was one of the few restaurants open past 9pm with 4+ stars, so I frequented this establishment for to-go cali fries when I needed a late night stop. Since one can find many establishments in San Diego with similar menu offerings, for a while I was perplexed as to why this place stood out. Then I realized a couple of things that made the difference: 1. Eat the fries there and not to-go. When getting fries to go, by the time you break open the box at home, the fries are soggy, completely dampening the experience. Fries stay crispy when eating at the restaurant. 2. Visit while the salsa bar is open. Late at night the salsa bar & chips are not available. This offering on its own makes this place stand out over other places with similar menus. Tables, chairs and ambiance are nothing special, so the rating is mainly for their food offerings and ok service. read more

Have you ever had food that just makes you mad? Mad that you even came across this place and mad that you spent your hard earned money that's this place. I got a chile relleno burrito and an adovada taco. The meat tasted like ground beef, even though it is pork. The thing that saves it is the guacamole. The veggies taste bitter for some reason and the burrito it had at most two bites worth of the chili. I saw the cook put some of my food in the microwave to cook it 99% of this burrito was rice, cabbage, and veggies that all made a bitter tasting burrito. I did not finish the burrito. I will definitely not be coming back and if anybody ever recommends me this place, I know not to trust their taste buds read more

I absolutely love Cali & Fries. I get the Cali veggie burrito and my bf gets the surf n turf burrito. They're both soo amazing and always a great portion size. They do such a great job everytime and it's the best burritos I've ever had. I carve it all the time when I'm in AZ. There is nothing like it. read more

Stopped by this place after my flight, got there a little after 9 PM. The salsa bar and condiments were already cleaned up for the night, but the lobby and tables were spotless. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I ordered the Chipotle Carne Asada Fries. The fries were perfectly crispy, the meat was juicy and packed with flavor. Portion sizes are generous. Definitely plan to stop by again if I'm ever in the area! read more

Cali's & Fries - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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For a place that specializes in asada fries they were pretty gross. Fries were soggy and the meat was lukewarm. Super salty and $18.

Got the surf & turf burrito with extra pico de gallo and bbq carne asada fries for $32. So goood. Came here at midnight Definitely would come back if I'm in the area read more

Cali's & Fries - Surf & turf burrito - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Good food, right off the 15 freeway / Claremont Mesa Blvd. Ample parking and free tortilla chips at the salsa bar. read more

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I've been going to Cali and Fries since 2004 (when it was under a different name/management). The same staff have been putting out quality food since then. Yes, inflation has made the prices of burritos increase over the years, but the quality hasn't changed. Obviously, there is a reason I've been coming here for 18 years.... The food is amazing and the people working are great. They have adapted to the changing market by diversifying their menu to include international burritos and an AMAZING coconut horchata. In a city where there are possibly hundreds of taco shops, you need to stand out, which they are clearly doing. I'm mostly vegetarian, and their veggie burrito has all the goods in it without an extra charge. load up on the salsa while you're here, it's great on any food you have in the fridge at home, you'll thank me later. read more

Cali's & Fries - Argentinian Burrito with Chicken - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Ordered some tacos, a drink and churro for $18. The tacos were fresh and delicious. The horchatta was great, and they even have a nice salsa chip bar. The service was what you can expect when you have a busy rush. The only thing they need to improve on is keeping the tables clean. My table was visually clean, but it had sticky residue from whatever cleaning or towel solution they used. Plenty of seating, even has outside seating. I usually get the surf and turf fries which are some of the best in town. Today I wanted to try their tacos. The cashier was friendly and polite, definitely can tell she didn't mind her job. Definitely my spot for some Mexican food now! read more

2 dollar taco tuesdays. The asada was not good, but the adobada was great for 2 dollars. read more

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I usually like this place, but last night I spent $70 on 3 burritos and fish tacos. The quality has gotten really bad, the burritos were so small and I found egg shells throughout the machaca burrito. I added a picture with a sauce lid so you can see how large some were, I could not finish eating it. Last time I ordered 2 burritos they charged $6-7 for extra shrimp which was needed because last time there was only 3 shrimp in the surf in turf burrito. I just think if I'm spending $50-$70 each time I order from this place the quality should AT LEAST remain the same not get worse. I feel bad writing this but really disappointed in the food from last night. read more

Cali's & Fries - Egg shells in burrito. The burritos are the skinniest sizes too. - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Just left today CALI's getting a surf and turf burrito. One of the best ones I've had in a long time. Fresh well flavored and a BIG burrito.

My husband and I found Cali's & Fries when we were looking for nearby lunch spots. We read how this local shop has the best carne asada fries, so had to try them. It's located in a small shopping center with plenty of parking. We showed up on a Saturday late morning so it wasn't busy at all since it was before lunch time. There were so many options to choose from, but I decided to try the BBQ carne asada fries, while my husband had the regular carne asada fries. Both were really good and large portions. The carne asada was really flavorful! I like my fries to be a bit thicker/bigger, so these were smaller for my taste, but still really good. Service was friendly and quick. I'm definitely going to try one of their various burritos next time! read more

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